Portable safety bombproof shelter



ay 2, 1944. 1 ZUCKERMANN 2,347,653

PORTABLE SAFETY BOMB-PROOF SHELTER Filed Dec. 22, 1941 s sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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PORTABLE SAFETY BOMB-PROOF SHELTER Filed Dc. 22, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. 57 {Indore Zucker/Im'r'm Arroelvzy Patented May 2, 1944 warren srsrss rarest" orrics PORTABLE SAFETY BOMBPROOF SHELTER Isidore Zuckermann, New York, N. Y

Application December 22, 1941, Seria1No. 423,959

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a portable safety bomb-proof shelter.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a safety portable bomb-proof shelter characterized by a construction which may be easily transported and set up in a very short time upon the roof of a building, on the street, or in a park, and provided with superimposed layers of strong resilient material arranged in a manner to provide protection against incendiary bombs and other types of bombs, providing safety for the home or building upon which the device is set up.

A further object of the invention proposes the provision of a collapsible frame arranged to support a wire screen and provided with resilient foot members arranged so that when bombs land upon the screen, the combined resiliency of the screen and resilient foot members tend to reverse the direction of the bomb and throw the same clear of the object upon which the device is placed.

A further object of the invention proposes the provision of a plurality of superimposed extendable awnings constructed of rubber, rubberized canvas, rubberized asbestos, sponge rubber, or rubberized wire gauze, and disposed beneath the Wire screen in a manner to catch flaming bits of material falling from an exploded incendiary bomb to retainthis flaming material out of contact with relation to the surface upon which the device is positioned.

A further object of the invention proposes a means whereby a single handle may be manually rotated to simultaneously extend all of the awnings into their operative position beneath the wire mesh. 7

It is a further object of this invention to construct a device which may be quickly and easily set up to afford a maximum of protectionto the surface to which it has been applied and which is arranged to be easily dismantled to be transported to a place where a bomb-proof shelter of this type may be urgently needed.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portable safety bomb proof shelter constructed in accordance with this invention and having one of the wire mesh screens removed to reveal interior construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the bottom portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

' Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view looking in the direction of the line Illlll of Fig. 3.

The portable safety bomb-proof shelter, according to this invention, includes a vertical central frame Hi. This vertical central frame is constructed of a plurality of vertical posts H and a means is provided for fixedly connecting these posts together as a unit. This means comprises a pair of vertically spaced collars l2 mounted upon each of the vertical posts H. Rods l3 are extended between the collars l2. The rods l3 have their ends extended into bosses l2 formed on the collars I2 and are securely attached thereto by means of pins i l.

A pair of vertical end frames [5 and i3 are provided upon opposite sides of the central frame it. Each of these vertical end frames l5 and i6 is alike in construction and comprises a plurality of vertical posts ll. Means is provided for connecting together the vertical posts H on each of the end frames I5 and 16. This means comprises collars I8 mounted upon the vertical posts 11. in horizontally aligned positions with the collars l2 uponthe posts H for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. Rods i9 are extended" between the collars [8. The rods I3 have their ends extended into-bosses le formed on the collars I8 and aresecurely attached thereto by means of pins 20.

Means is provided for releasably connecting the end frames 15 and Hi to the central frame Hi. This means comprises a plurality of rods 2!. These rods 2| are provided at their ends with right and left hand threads engageable into complementary openings formed in the collars 12 of the central frame l0 and the collars l8 of the end frames l5 and Hi. It was for the purpose of permitting these rods 2| to engage the collars l2 and I8 that these collars were arranged in horizontally aligned positions upon their respective posts H and I1.

The top end of each of the vertical posts I and I1 is provided with a ball member 22 each of which is provided with one or more hooks 23 arranged to support a screen 24 of wire mesh material. The screen 24 has its corners and intermediate areas engaged with the hooks 23 by passing the hooks through the openings in the wire mesh material. The bottom end of the vertical posts II and l! are provided with resilient foot members 25 having suction cup openings 26 upon which the device is rested for maintaining the same against movement relative thereto. The

foot members are preferably constructed of soft rubber having great resiliency and are relied upon in conjunction with the resilient action of the wire screen 24 for arresting the downward motion of a bomb and reversing the same to cause the bomb to be deflected from the surface upon which the bomb-proof shelter is mounted.

A plurality of horizontal and vertically spaced shafts 21 are rotativelyextended between the vertical posts I of the central'frame I9. A means is provided for simultaneously turning each of the shafts 21 in one direction or the other. To accomplish this the shafts 21 are extended beyond one end of the central frame I 9 and each is provided with a sprocket 28. A sprocket chain 29 engages each of the sprocket wheels 28 and extends around and under a bottom sprocket wheel 39. The sprocket wheel 30 ismounted upon a stud shaft 3| mounted upon the adjacent vertical post ll of the central frame Ill. The projected end of the stud shaft 3| carries a crank member 32 provided with a handle 33 by which the stud shaft 3| may be rotated to move the chain 29 and impart the rotation of the stud shaft 3| to each of the shafts 21.

Means is provided for retaining the chain 29 engaged with the teeth of the central sprocket wheels28 disposed between the topmost sprocket wheel 28 and the sprocket wheel 39. This means comprises bands of metal 34 mounted upon the extended ends of the shafts 21 and engaged about the respective sprocket wheels 28 and sides of the chain 29.

Between the vertical posts H of the central frame I!) each of the shafts 21 is provided with a pair of sprockets 35 aligned with a complementary pair of sprockets 36 mounted upon a shaft 31 rotatively supported upon the'vertical posts I! of the end frame I6. Adjacent the pairs of sprockets 35 each of the shafts 21 is provided with an adjacent pair of sprockets 38 aligned with a complementary pair of end sprockets 39 mounted upon a shaft 31. The shaft 31 is mounted upon the vertical posts ll of the end frame l5. The means for supporting the shafts 31 comprises a pair of split brackets 40 mounted upon each of the posts I! of the end frames [5 and I6 and into which the ends of the shafts 3'! engage. These split brackets 40 are mounted in position upon the vertical posts I! by means of nuts and bolts 4|.

For each pair of aligned sprockets 35 and 36 there is a continuous chain 42 and for each pair of aligned sprockets 38 and 39 there is a continuous chain 43. At positions above the shafts 21 the vertical posts ll of the central frame M are arranged to support awnings 44. Each of the awnings 44 comprises a window shade type of spring controlled roller 45 having a spring 45' therein and outwardly extending studs 46 supported in complementary brackets 41 mounted upon the posts ll.

Upon each of the rollers 45 there is an awning member 48. The awning member 48 has one of its ends attached to the roller 45 and the other of its ends attached to a clamp 49 extended between and mounted upon adjacent pairs of chains 42 or 43. The awning members 48 are preferably constructed of five superimposed layers of rubber material fused together to form an integral unit. The fused layers have their grain running in opposite directions, preferably at right angles to each other, for increasing the strength of the awning members 48 to prevent falling material from piercing the same. The construction is such that as the rotations of the stud shaft 3| are imparted to the shafts 21 the chains 42 and 43 will be advanced to extend the awnings 44 to the right and left of the central frame to a position in which the outer ends of the awning members 48 will be disposed adjacent the end frames l5 and IS.

The awning members 48 are for the purpose of catching flaming bits of material falling from an incendiary bomb in the event the contact of the bomb with the wire mesh screen explodes the bomb. The flaming material dropping from the exploding bomb will pass through the openings in the screen 24 and drop upon the awning members 48 and will be retained thereon. Since the awning members are to be constructed of non-inflammable material they will not be destroyed by the flaming bits of material.

The awning members 48 are preferably made of resilient and very strong elastic rubber compound and cemented together alternately lengthwise and crosswise, about five plies, to make the awning bomb-proof, and to produce enough resiliency to bounce back the bombs, without piercing through the rubber.

The third and top awning is also to be preferably of four or five plies, cemented together and covered with asbestos cloth, to make it incendiary bomb-proof.

The awnings 48 may be spaced about one foot apart and the first awning 48 should preferably be located about two feet below the wire screen 24.

A lock means is provided for preventing energy of the spring controlled rollers 45 from rewinding the awning members 48 upon the rollers. This means comprises a stud 50 projecting from the handle 33 and passing through a complementary opening 5| formed in the radially extending crank 32. The free end of the stud 5D is engageable into a complementary opening 52 formed in a boss 53 formed on the vertical post of the central frame l0 immediately below the sprocket 30. The collar 54 is formed upon the stud 59 and an expansion spring 55 operates between the adjacent face of the collar 54 and the crank 32 for urging the stud into a position in which its free end will retain its engaged position with the opening 52 in the boss 53. It is possible to pull outwards upon the handle 33 and disengage the stud 50 from the opening 52, permitting the stud shaft 3| to be rotated.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The normal set up condition of the portable safety bomb-proof shelter is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. For the purpose of extending the awning members 48 the crank 32 is released by pulling outwards on the handle 33 freeing the lever to be rotated by the handle 33 which is maintained in its pulled out condition. This rotation of the crank rotates the sprocket 30 and advances the chain 29 to rotate each of the shafts 21 through the medium of the sprockets 28. As the shafts 21 are rotated the chains 42 and 43 will be similarly advanced causing the free ends of the awning members 48 to be pulled outwards away from the central frame In into a position in which the ends of the awnings will be adjacent the frames l and Hi. In this position the bombproof shelter is in position to protect a surface upon which it is mounted.

In the event incendiary or other similar bombs drop upon the shelter they will strike the wire screen 24 and the resiliency thereof, in conjunction with the rubber foot members 25, will cause the downward motion of the bomb to be arrested and reversed, causing the bomb to be thrown clear of the surface upon which the shelter is resting. However, if upon contact with the wire screen the bomb explodes the bits of fire material dropping from the exploded bomb will pass through the openings in the wire mesh 24 and drop upon the extended awning members 48 which are constructed of non-inflammable material and will be retained thereon until they burn out.

The portable safety bomb-proof shelter may be reduced in size to permit the same to be conveniently transported by first threadedly removing each of the rods 2| from their engaged positions with the collars l2 and I8. The end frames l5 and I6 will then be disconnected from the central frame I!) permitting the end frames l5 and 16 to be moved laterally into a position immediately adjacent the central frame I0. To return the frames to their operative position it is merely necessary to re-engage the rods 2| after the chains 42 and 43 have been properly engaged about the sprockets 36 and 39. It is understood that this collapsing and reshaping of the bomb-proof shelter is to be done with the awning members 48 in their retracted position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is tobe understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a portable safety bomb-proof shelter, a frame comprising a central frame section and end frame sections spaced from either side of said central frame section, a horizontal shaft rotatively supported on said central frame section, means for turning said shaft in either direction, sprockets mounted on said shaft adjacent the ends thereof, complementary sprockets rotatively mounted on said end frame sections, endless chains engaging over said sprockets, spring retracted rollers mounted on said central frame section above and below said shaft, fireproof awnings wound on said rollers and having their outer ends attached across the sides of said endless chains so that said awnings will be extended from said central frame section to said end frame sections and simultaneously wind up the springs of said rollers when said shaft is turned in one direction, and means restraining said shaft from turning in the opposite direction preventing energy stored in the springs of said rollers from rewinding said awnings.

2. In a portable safety bomb-proof shelter, a frame comprising a central frame section and end frame sections spaced from either side of said central frame section, a horizontal shaft rotatively supported on said central frame section, means for turning said shaft in either direction, sprockets mounted on said shaft adjacent the ends thereof, complementary sprockets rotatively mounted on said end frame sections, endless chains engaging over said sprockets, spring retracted rollers mounted on said central frame section above and below said shaft, fireproof awnings wound on said rollers and having their outer ends attached across the sides of said endless chains so that said awnings will be extended from said central frame section to said end frame sections and simultaneously wind up the springs of said rollers when said shaft is turned in one direction, and means restraining said shaft from turning in the opposite direction preventing energy stored in the springs of said rollers from rewinding said awnings, said first means, comprising a sprocket mounted on the extended end of said shaft, a complementary sprocket wheel rotatively mounted upon a portion of said central frame sections, an endless sprocket chain engaged over said latter mentioned sprocket wheels, and having an operating handle associated therewith, said latter means, comprising a manually releasable lock mounted on said handle and engageable with a complementary keeper mounted on said central frame section.

ISIDORE ZUCKERMAN N. 

